Bassoon palyer that wants to double up

[Peter342]

Hello, I'm a sophmore in high school and last summer I learned the bassoon,I am fairly good at it,I am in the orchestra and band, but I want to take up saxophones,clarinets,and the flute. I know it takes alot of work to learn all of those,but I do know how to read treble clef and time sigs, and note values. I really want to learn this instruments. Most likely Bass clarinet in March or April and saxphones in my schools summer music program,and flute maybe next year. Do you think this could happen? PLease help,I really love how all the saxs sound and the woody sound of the Bb clarinet and bass clari,and the flute sounds great too. That's all I'd like to know.Comment please.

[Peter342]

My music bassoon teacher plays all saxs,clarinets,flutes,oboes,and bassoon,But he has been playing for a longtime,I started bassoon at age 15 during while he started sax in 4th grade,I'm a late starter :( . Then again one of my favorite woodwind players Joseph Jarman, who played with the Art Ensemble of Chicago nad learned all those instruments in the army,plays as much instruments as my teacher does,so does Roscoe Mitchell,Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jay Easton(www.jayeaston.com ) Ian Underwood(FZ and the Mothers of invention),and Bunk Gardner (FZ and the Mothers of invention.)

[Brendan Muse]

Yes, going from the sax to the bassoon is unbelievably easy. I'm going the other way, unfortunately, and it's rough. You guys actually use your thumbs!

I would personally suggest going from bassoon to flute to clarinet to sax, because that way you start with the harder instruments and move to the easier ones. But, do whatever you can manage. Just remember that all of the other instruments you're looking at play in treble clef, so you'll have to learn that if you don't already know it.

[GAS_Wyo]

I moved from Sax to Bassoon, majoring in the latter in college. IMO, the woodwinds are pretty much all the same. I never did really 'get' the clarinet because of what seemed like 1.5 octaves in a set of fingerings up and down the horn in the same space as a whole octave on the sax, but that is just my hangup.

If you play bassoon well, jump to the sax this summer and play all you can! Play it during the marching band season and pick up the bassoon again for concert season. It worked great for me! However, my band director also suggested I learn the brass instruments, so he put me on the trombone (9th), baritone horn (10th & 11th) and back to trombone in 12th grade for marching season. THAT was the thing that set me apart and got the full-ride music scholarship to come my way.

On the clefs issue, you already know how to read the treble clef. I suggest playing lots of bassoon studies in tenor clef to read the higher notes just above bass clef. Weissenborn is a great book to learn the bassoon properly.

[Razzy]

I think you should stick with one instrument and achieve some degree of mastery on it before picking up the others. Picking up the others and progressing on your original horn are both going to be a lot easier that way.

[Peter342]

Yes, going from the sax to the bassoon is unbelievably easy. I'm going the other way, unfortunately, and it's rough. You guys actually use your thumbs!

I would personally suggest going from bassoon to flute to clarinet to sax, because that way you start with the harder instruments and move to the easier ones. But, do whatever you can manage. Just remember that all of the other instruments you're looking at play in treble clef, so you'll have to learn that if you don't already know it.

Yes, I'm going to do Bassoon to flute to clarinet to sax. I am pretty good on I can hit low Bb to high high C,and I'm playing the Carmen Suite which is pretty a hard piece, but I think I'll do fine.Oh,and yes I have do have the Weissenborn
and I can read Tenor clef.

[jaysne]

Of course it can happen. You sound passionate enough to do it, and that is all you need. That and a good horn or two, and perhaps a good teacher to show you what NOT to do. I don't think you need to waste time asking people about how to do it--just do it.

[Peter342]

I hvae decided to just play bassoon(and contrabassoon in college), and saxophone. I just thought it over for a couple of days and thought it would be a better idea.

[Dr G]

I have decided to just play bassoon(and contrabassoon in college), and saxophone. I just thought it over for a couple of days and thought it would be a better idea.

Good for you. I, too, played bassoon and tenor sax through college. I also played clarinet and flute as doubles in jazz bands and guitar in a Top 40 group to pay my way. I regret the time lost in diluting my studies with other instruments so early on.

[saxfreak]

It's nice to see another potential doubler in the formative stage. You have a good perspective at this point, and your plan makes a lot of sense. It's important to respect all of the woodwind instruments as being really wonderful in their own unique way. I think adding one instrument at a time is smart. You'll find that there are a lot of elements that will carry over to the new instrument. Be sure you have a LOT of patience, because some instruments take a long time to develop. In my case, the flute embouchure and sound concept took years (it seemed like). Being young, you might be able to learn faster than some of us geezers. Good luck and enjoy the journey!

[Pinnman]

Stan Getz started on bassoon before switching to tenor (and very occasional baritone) sax. Illinois Jacquet played the odd tune on bassoon (from tenor).

[saxfreak]

Stan Getz started on bassoon before switching to tenor (and very occasional baritone) sax. Illinois Jacquet played the odd tune on bassoon (from tenor).

Also Ray Pizzi

[Dr G]

Take a listen to Tim Price at his website.

[Peter342]

I'm going to start sax this month,but,I'm having second thoughts about the flute. I'm thinking about playing it next spring,and I want to now if it's easy to pick up and the pros and cons on the flute.

[Peter342]

Actually I'm going with my old idea playing saxophones clarinets and flute,but first saxophone and when I am ready,bass clarinet than flute.